KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, rescue workers help KSC personnel feigning injuries to a triage area set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The "injured" workers will be airlifted to participating area hospitals. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, the KSC rescue team carries an "injured" astronaut toward one of five helicopters participating in the exercise. The triage area was set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, KSC personnel representing astronauts are treated at a triage area set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The "injured" workers will be airlifted to participating area hospitals. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, the KSC rescue team moves an "injured" astronaut toward a NASA helicopter, one of five participating in the exercise. The triage area was set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, a triage area set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B, is busy as rescue workers monitor the "injured." KSC personnel portrayed the astronauts. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The "injured" worker may be airlifted to participating area hospitals. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, a helicopter leaves with an "injured" astronaut while others are being monitored in the triage area, set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, a KSC rescue team helps a worker portraying an "injured" astronaut at a triage area set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The "injured" worker may be airlifted to participating area hospitals. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, the KSC rescue team moves an "injured" astronaut toward the open doors of a NASA helicopter, one of five participating in the exercise. The triage area was set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, rescue workers have set up a triage area at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A, with KSC personnel portraying astronauts and feigning injuries. The participants were helped off the pad and are being taken to the triage site. "Injured" workers will be airlifted to participating area hospitals. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, a KSC rescue team carries a worker portraying an "injured" astronaut toward the triage area set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The "injured" workers will be airlifted to participating area hospitals. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, the KSC rescue team monitors one of the "injured" astronauts, being portrayed by KSC personnel. The site is a triage area set up at Helipad 8, located near the fire station between Launch Pads 39A and 39B. The emergency exercise began on Launch Pad 39A. The participants were helped off the pad and taken to the triage site. The "injured" worker may be airlifted to participating area hospitals. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside an M-113 armored personnel carrier, members of the KSC rescue team escort an "injured" astronaut, portrayed by a KSC worker, during the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4. The M-113 will be used to transport the worker to a triage area. The emergency exercise began at the 195-foot level of Launch Pad 39A. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, the KSC rescue team carries an "injured" astronaut, portrayed by a KSC worker, toward an M-113 armored carrier. The M-113 will be used to transport the worker to a triage area. The emergency exercise began at the 195-foot level of Launch Pad 39A. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, one M-113 armored carrier leaves Launch Pad 39A while a second waits for another passenger. The carriers are being used to transport workers simulating astronauts and others to a triage area. The emergency exercise began at the 195-foot level of Launch Pad 39A. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, the KSC rescue team moves astronauts, portrayed by KSC personnel, into M-113 armored carriers. The M-113 will be used to transport the workers to a triage area. The emergency exercise began at the 195-foot level of Launch Pad 39A. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the second stage of a simulated emergency, known as Mode 4, the KSC rescue team moves "injured" astronauts, portrayed by KSC personnel, into M-113 armored carriers. The M-113 will be used to transport the workers to a triage area. The emergency exercise began at the 195-foot level of Launch Pad 39A. The KSC rescue teams are practicing emergency procedures in the unlikely scenario of a mishap on the pad during a launch sequence. The exercises are standard training procedures to assess and prepare emergency personnel, procedures and hardware. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Emergency crew members assess medical needs on “injured” astronauts removed from the orbiter crew compartment mock-up during a “Mode VII” emergency landing simulation at Kennedy Space Center. The purpose of the Mode VII is to exercise emergency preparedness personnel, equipment and facilities in rescuing astronauts from a downed orbiter and providing immediate medical attention. This simulation presents an orbiter that has crashed short of the Shuttle Landing Facility in a wooded area 2-1/2 miles south of Runway 33. Emergency crews are responding to the volunteer astronauts who are simulating various injuries. Rescuers must remove the crew, provide triage and transport to hospitals those who need further treatment. Local hospitals are participating in the exercise.

Air Force fire/rescue crew enter the space shuttle cabin mockup hatch to evacuate the shuttle crew during a shuttle rescue training exercise at Edwards AFB. (USAF photo # 070505-F-1287F-118)

Air Force rescue team members load the volunteer "injured astronaut" on a stretcher into a Blackhawk helicopter for evacuation to a hospital during the exercise. (USAF photo # 070505-F-1287F-166)

Complete with makeup to simulate facial injuries, a volunteer "astronaut" is tended to by aeromedical rescue staff after evacuation from the shuttle mockup. (USAF photo # 070505-F-1287F-145)

Air Force fire/rescue crew place a volunteer "injured astronaut" on a stretcher after exiting the shuttle cabin mockup during the training exercise. (USAF photo # 070505-F-1287F-126)

Clad in thermal protection suits, fire/rescue crew aid a volunteer "Injured astronaut" to a head-first ride down the exit slide from the shuttle cabin mockup. (USAF photo # 070505-F-1287F-132)